Abstract: A fluid heating element includes first and second conduits. The first conduit has a first inlet and a first outlet. The first inlet is configured to receive a first portion of the fluid, and the first outlet is configured to discharge the first portion of the fluid. The second conduit has a second inlet and a second outlet. The second inlet is configured to receive a second portion of the fluid, and the second outlet is configured to discharge the second portion of the fluid. The fluid heating element further includes an electrothermal coating associated with the first and second conduits and an electrical lead configured to apply an electric current across the electrothermal coating. The electrothermal coating converts the electric current to heat that is transferred to through the first and second conduits to the fluid.

Abstract: An overhead arm assembly for a patient support apparatus includes a user interface device. The user interface device has a support structure for supporting a personal digital assistant and a charging port for personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A lighting control system for controlling a cumulative light emitted by a lighting fixture may comprise a light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising an output for conducting an output current, and a control module electrically coupled to the output of the LED driver for receiving the output current. The LED driver may regulate the magnitude of the output current towards a target current, and may be characterized by a low-end intensity. The control module may be coupled to a first LED light source of the LED light sources. The control module may receive a command including a requested intensity and control the magnitude of a first LED current through the first LED light source. The control module may control the cumulative light output of the lighting fixture below the low-end intensity of the LED driver by diverting a portion of the output current away from the first LED light source.

Abstract: An overhead arm assembly for a patient support apparatus includes a user interface device. The user interface device has a support structure for supporting a personal digital assistant and a charging port for personal digital assistant.

Abstract: An overhead arm assembly for a patient support apparatus includes a user interface device. The user interface device has a support structure for supporting a personal digital assistant and a charging port for personal digital assistant.

Abstract: An overhead arm assembly for a patient support apparatus includes a user interface device. The user interface device has a support structure for supporting a personal digital assistant and a charging port for personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A smart vend motor is described which may be deployed in a standard snack and candy vending machine, a coin and bill dispensing machine, or the like. Each smart vending motor has a local smart control able to determine if its corresponding smart vending motor has been selected for energization from a signal sent to multiple vend motors. This smart controller can also control operation of multiple additional devices, such as LEDs to light products, consumer information displays, and product drop detectors. In some applications, vending of multiple vend motors at the same time is supported.

Abstract: A selectively transparent bridge facilitates a PCI device presenting itself to the host as a PCI-to-PCI bridge but selectively hiding and isolating hardware from the host bus. PCI configuration may be achieved through the standard PCI Express configuration mechanisms, but instead of configuring devices directly, a configuration processor in the selectively transparent bridge may intercept the configuration packets from the host, and create a virtual configuration to alter how the bus topology appears to the host. Devices are selectively hidden and managed by the configuration processor, resulting in simplified complexity and bus depth. Since the selectively transparent bridge appears to the host as a transparent bridge, no special drivers or resource preallocations are required, although the selectively transparent bridge fully supports special drivers and/or resource preallocations. Devices located/connected downstream of the bridge may therefore function with unmodified drivers.

Abstract: An overhead arm assembly for a patient support apparatus includes a user interface device. The user interface device has a support structure for supporting a personal digital assistant and a charging port for personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A device designed to transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, devalues currency with indelible ink, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. Further, techniques are described for transferring indelible ink efficiently and reliably to a cash compartment area of the transport case.

Abstract: A selectively transparent bridge facilitates a PCI device presenting itself to the host as a PCI-to-PCI bridge but selectively hiding and isolating hardware from the host bus. PCI configuration may be achieved through the standard PCI Express configuration mechanisms, but instead of configuring devices directly, a configuration processor in the selectively transparent bridge may intercept the configuration packets from the host, and create a virtual configuration to alter how the bus topology appears to the host. Devices are selectively hidden and managed by the configuration processor, resulting in simplified complexity and bus depth. Since the selectively transparent bridge appears to the host as a transparent bridge, no special drivers or resource preallocations are required, although the selectively transparent bridge fully supports special drivers and/or resource preallocations. Devices located/connected downstream of the bridge may therefore function with unmodified drivers.

Abstract: A selectively transparent bridge facilitates a PCI device presenting itself to the host as a PCI-to-PCI bridge but selectively hiding and isolating hardware from the host bus. PCI configuration may be achieved through the standard PCI Express configuration mechanisms, but instead of configuring devices directly, a configuration processor in the selectively transparent bridge may intercept the configuration packets from the host, and create a virtual configuration to alter how the bus topology appears to the host. Devices are selectively hidden and managed by the configuration processor, resulting in simplified complexity and bus depth. Since the selectively transparent bridge appears to the host as a transparent bridge, no special drivers or resource preallocations are required, although the selectively transparent bridge fully supports special drivers and/or resource preallocations. Devices located/connected downstream of the bridge may therefore function with unmodified drivers.

Abstract: A selectively transparent bridge facilitates a PCI device presenting itself to the host as a PCI-to-PCI bridge but selectively hiding and isolating hardware from the host bus. PCI configuration may be achieved through the standard PCI Express configuration mechanisms, but instead of configuring devices directly, a configuration processor in the selectively transparent bridge may intercept the configuration packets from the host, and create a virtual configuration to alter how the bus topology appears to the host. Devices are selectively hidden and managed by the configuration processor, resulting in simplified complexity and bus depth. Since the selectively transparent bridge appears to the host as a transparent bridge, no special drivers or resource preallocations are required, although the selectively transparent bridge fully supports special drivers and/or resource preallocations. Devices located/connected downstream of the bridge may therefore function with unmodified drivers.

Abstract: A device designed to transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, devalues currency with indelible ink, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. Further, techniques are described for transferring indelible ink efficiently and reliably to a cash compartment area of the transport case.

Abstract: A PCIe subsystem may be coupled to a host by a system extender adapted to perform PCIe packet routing based on packet type. A first TLP (transport layer packet) type router may receive PCIe packets, and selectively route the PCIe packets according to the type of the packet through a corresponding path of at least two alternate paths. A second TLP type router may receive the routed packet through a first path if the PCIe packet was routed through the first path, and may receive the routed packet through a second path if the routed packet was routed through the second path. A non transparent bridge may be coupled between the first TLP type router block and the second TLP type router block along the second path, while the first path may be a pass-through path from the first TLP type router block to the second TLP type router block.

Abstract: Enumerating an expanded bus system in a system. The expanded bus system may include a first bus, a bridge coupled to the first bus, and a second bus coupled to the bridge, where the second bus includes one or more downstream bus ports. One or more of the downstream bus ports may initially be masked. An initial bus enumeration may be performed during system boot, which may not include enumerating the masked bus ports. After the initial bus enumeration, the masked bus ports may be unmasked. An operating system may re-enumerate the bus system, which may include enumerating the no-longer-masked bus ports.

Abstract: Enumerating an expanded bus system in a system. The expanded bus system may include a first bus, a bridge coupled to the first bus, and a second bus coupled to the bridge, where the second bus includes one or more downstream bus ports. One or more of the downstream bus ports may initially be masked. An initial bus enumeration may be performed during system boot, which may not include enumerating the masked bus ports. After the initial bus enumeration, the masked bus ports may be unmasked. An operating system may re-enumerate the bus system, which may include enumerating the no-longer-masked bus ports.

Abstract: An audit system for connection to vending machines is described. In an implementation, the audit system includes an audit monitor containing a microprocessor capable of reading information from at least one of a vending machine or from an operational device. The audit system also includes at least one sub-module coupled to the audit monitor and capable of detecting additional information.

Abstract: An audit system for connection to vending machines is described. In an implementation, the audit system includes an audit monitor containing a microprocessor capable of reading information from at least one of a vending machine or from an operational device. The audit system also includes at least one sub-module coupled to the audit monitor and capable of detecting additional information.

Abstract: An improved display module for a vending machine is described. An implementation includes an enhanced display means, an inverter connected to a CLOCK input signal, and a flip-flop connected to the inverter and to a DATA input signal. The inverter and the flip-flop generate a LOAD signal for input to the enhanced display.